^^^ I reached exactly the same epiphany, if you can call it that, about 3 years ago now. It might change someday but I can't be an employee any more. I just can't. I can't tolerate the idea of having so much of my time sucked up on something that offers so relatively little in the way of return. And I cannot cede my future to management any more; I have to own responsibility for it because, honestly, there's only so much future left for me (or for any of us).